My overall favorite was a late 60s Supra. Hands down.

It was lost it in a van accident in 1978 after a gig... or I'd probably still be playing it.

Bill

I've only played on ONE Ludwig 3-ply snare I've liked, and that is a 1960 Ludwig Auditorium that I have. I also prefer the sound of 14x6.5 Supras to the 5" deep models.

I've actually never come across a Super COB, Supra 400, Super Classic, or Jazz Fest I've liked enough to keep and use. I've always had an affinity for the Slingerland snares, Hollywood Aces and Radio Kings, even though they were constructed SO similarly to the 3-ply Ludwig snares. Weird. I LOVE the Ludwig kits, though...

Neither. I prefer a Pioneer to both of those. But, I would take quite a few other groove snares before I would consider either of the Luddys listed. They are nice snares, but for grooving ... I like a snare to add that magical blend with the warm wood of the toms and bass and the warm spread of large crash/rides. That calls for something that has amazing sensitivity and warmth and the perfect amount of resonance. Ludwig never made a snare that fit that criteria for my ears. GREAT snares, just not the perfect groove snare. ... ... ... but I guess all this is dependent upon how you define "groove". (big washy med/low crash/rides, large (16 inch) thin hats, African Mahogany shells for deeeeeeeep woody warmth, and a snare that bridges all that ... for me)

vintage American-made Acrolite or Supra

Ludwig snares!

My favorites depend on my mood... I have a pretty good pile of Acrolite's, what a wonderful drum. I have quite a number of versions, all the way up to the B/W badged black sparkle models. Next is my deep dish Black Beauty, that thing has nuances that are just amazing. Wood snares are sweet also. I pull out one of my Standard's (in Avocado Strata of course) or a newer one I snagged on C/L locally a couple years ago. It's a birch model LRP 514 (says so on the box) that came in the original box from Ludwig. I don't think the guy I bought it from had hit it more that a few times, and it was cheap. Bowtie lugs, made in America.

The list goes like this;

1.) Mid 60's Ludwig COA Supra

2.) Early 60's Rogers COB Powertone Cleveland (Very close to #1)

3.) Late 60's Ludwig WOW Standard Lemon Strata (Wrap Over Wood)

The Supra and Powertone are always competing for my hand.

Clapping Happy2

Ok..

Mid 60's Supra with lots of chrome acne,but sound........damn

Mid 60's Acro,lots of character,and I just put a NOS P-83/32 on it.

Mid 60's Jazzfest,blue oyster pearl.Its a little over 5" deep,and a very warm drum

Still looking for my bronze black beauty

Steve B

ealy 80's Blue/ovive badge 6.5x14 Hammered bronze....

I've concluded that I just prefer their metal snares in general, as opposed to wood. Maybe it's the sensitivity and response. I like both the 5 and 6.5 sizes in all of the various Supra or BB models, and the Acro...depending on my mood!